INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Grad Student Presents Research . . . . . 2

CEAP Golf Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

There and Back again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2013 UP Graduates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Summer Collaborative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

TRACS Reorganization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

New Faculty and Staff . . . . . . . . . . . 8

CEAP Technology EXPO . . . . . . . . 10

Newsletter Editor – Lydia Cook

THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND ALLIED PROFESSIONS | FALL 2013

In December 2012, the National Residence Hall Honorary Chapter at Western Carolina University recognized the WHEE Teach Living-Learning Community for what they faced in the fall 2012 semester. The College of Education and Allied Professions and the WHEE Teach Living-Learning Community lost a powerful champion and ally when Dr. Janice Holt passed away in October 2013. However, instead of letting this get to them, the WHEE Teach LLC bonded together and leaned on each other in their time of need. The nomination read, “At this very moment and through this semester, WHEE Teach went from being a Living-Learning Community to a family, one I am proud to be part of.” The students in WHEE Teach showed the university what it was like to be a family organization. Congrats WHEE Teach!!!

NRHH recognized Whee Teach with the campus award in December 2012 for being the best campus residential community. In January, NRHH received word that WHEE Teach was also awarded the State Residential Community award, being the only Living-Learning Community to win the award at the time.

Whee Teach Wins Campus and State Award – By J . Peter Peltack

CEAP NewsTRACS Reorganization and the New Suite 201

continued on page 7

2013 has been a busy year for the TRACS (Teacher Recruitment, Advising and Career Support) unit so far! A bit of reorganization, a couple of conference presentations, and a new partnership initiative (all added to the TRACS regular event schedule) served to keep all of the TRACS staff on their toes.

After the loss of Dr. Janice Holt October 31, TRACS took an introspective look at the unit and, under the leadership of Dr. Kim Ruebel, finalized some reorganization efforts in the spring. Dr. David Strahan joined the TRACS team as the Director of Community Partnerships. Dr. Strahan will lead efforts to strengthen our community connections with public school partners across the region. Additionally, two coordinator positions were established to streamline some of the processes and functions of the unit.

FALL 2013 | PAGE 1

COLLABORATION WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN ALASKADuring the spring 2013 semester, Dr.

Karena Cooper-Duffy conducted three

collaborative activities with Special

Education teachers in Alaska. First,

she supervised an MAEd student

who was conducting her graduate

practicum in Alaska with students who

have significant intellectual disabilities.

Tara Maltby (graduate student) wrote

a thematic unit and shared it with

classroom teachers learning to educate

students with severe disabilities to

access the Common Core Extended

Standards. Second, Dr. Cooper-Duffy

taught her undergraduate students

in SPED 344 (Assistive Technology)

to make picture cues (e.g. a picture

checklist of skills such as how to

brush your hair, brush your teeth,

and follow a daily schedule). Adapted

books with modified versions of age-

appropriate stories were made for

students with significant intellectual

disabilities. The materials were taken

to Alaska and given to students with

severe disabilities who do not have

communication systems to ask for

items, follow directions with pictures,

and complete tasks with visual

directions. Finally, Karena was able to

meet and support special education

professionals who are working

with students who have significant

intellectual disabilities in Alaska.

Graduate Student Presents Research to North Carolina RepresentativeLauren Miller, a first-year student in WCU’s MA in Clinical Psychology program, presented her research findings

to Senators Jim Davis and Andrew Brock and Representative Joe Sam Queen on Thursday, May 23, 2013, during Graduate Education Day in Raleigh. Graduate

A conference at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching September 19 and 20 was the first activity of the new Western North Carolina P-16 Education Consortium, formed after Western Carolina University Chancellor David O. Belcher pledged in his 2012 installation address to convene a group of regional leaders to address education needs, toward the goal of improving the knowledge and skills of the WNC workforce. More than 80 educators from across the region gathered for the conference.

Under the leadership of Dale Carpenter, interim dean of WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions, and Elaine Franklin, former director of NCCAT, the education consortium steering committee selected math and math literacy as the first topic to address. For more, see http://thereporter.wcu.edu/2013/09/business-leaders-to-educators-at-wcu-convened-conference-strong-math-skills-a-must/.

WNC P-16 Education Consortium

Education Day is intended to highlight to congressional leaders the need and value of research to the state of North Carolina. Lauren’s work was selected after winning Best Overall Research Presentation at WCU’s Graduate Research Symposium on March 21, 2013. Lauren and co-winner Meghan Essignton, from the History graduate program, represented WCU and presented their work along with students from each of the other North Carolina graduate schools.

Lauren’s presentation in Raleigh included findings from her master’s thesis under the direction of Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla in the Psychology Department. Lauren’s research examines the relationship between psychopathic and narcissistic personality traits, which have been consistently associated with aggression, and individual deficits in the ability to identify emotions.

Currently, Lauren works for WCU as a TA which is supported by state funds and allows her to spend more time in the field and on her research. Lauren will be applying to PhD programs across the country in the fall to continue pursuing this line of research.

PAGE 2 | CEAP News

CEAP Golf ClassicThe inaugural CEAP Golf Tournament was held at the High Vista Golf Club in Mills River on March 23. Thirty-six golfers played during the only five hours suitable for golf in an otherwise cold and wet week. Through funds raised from entry fees and tee box and green sponsors, the college raised $1,725 spread over 13 scholarships currently endowed or working toward endowment in the college.

Interim Dean Dale Carpenter attended the tournament, monitored the par 3 hole number 10, noting who put their tee shot on the green, which qualified them for a drawing for a round of golf for four at Balsam Mountain Preserve.

The day concluded with a barbeque dinner and prizes and plaques for the winners.

The tournament format was a two-player “shamble.” Teams played a captain’s choice format, with pars keeping the players at their original tee boxes for the next hole, birdies moving them back a set of tees, and bogies moving them up a set. Winners of the first ever CEAP golf tournament are

Windy Gordon and Rachel Nelson (top flight winners) and Chuck Wooten and Larry Harbin (second flight winners).

The second annual CEAP golf tournament will be held March 29, 2014, at High Vista in Mills River. Start thinking about finding a partner and putting the tournament date on your calendar. If you would like to sponsor a tee or a green, or if you know of someone we can contact about sponsoring the tournament, please let us know.

Thanks to our sponsors:Norman West (Cullowhee Real Estate)

Dan Young (Moving to Success)

Jesse R. Lankford, Jr.

Dale Carpenter

Hoyt and Lora Ponder

Save the Date!Saturday, March 29, 2014

To Register Contact

David Claxton | Claxton@wcu.edu

FALL 2013 | PAGE 3

Finland: There and Back Again – By Taylor Medford

When the idea of completing Intern II in Finland was mentioned, I was the one everyone looked at, thinking, “well, Taylor won’t be going on this trip.” I was a traditional, mountain-grown student, born and raised less than an hour from WCU. I had never left the Southeast or even set foot on an airplane. However, I felt this trip was vital to my experience at Western, preparing me to bring something unique to the table when interviewing for my first teaching position. I had to go to Finland!

After multiple fundraising events, pinching every penny, and cramming in 50 days of full-time student teaching before April 1, it was time for us to head across the Big Pond. Our multiple flights to get to Finland set the tone for this first-time flyer; instead of the promised 17 hours, it took us 52 hours to reach Oulu! My luggage had a five-day trip. I looked at these mishaps as new adventures and compared them to going

into my first year of teaching. As a future educator, I truly have to be prepared for anything thrown my way, working through it with a smile on my face.

When our group first arrived in Oulu, I think I had unrealistic expectations of what we would see in Finnish schools. My peers and I thought we would see the ultimate utopian education system. My first impression of Oulu International School was that students roamed the halls as they pleased, used their electronic gadgets freely, and indulged in horseplay. This was not what we expected. But when the bell rang, the students headed to their classrooms. No teacher led them from room to room; the students knew where to go and when to be there.

In the next three weeks, we experienced Finnish school days firsthand and saw why those students are considered among the best. There were many differences between the Finnish schools and our American

schools, but I think that two factors made the most difference. Finnish schools used their time differently. After every 45-minute lesson, students went outside for recess with their peers. This time gave them the opportunity simply to be kids. These regular breaks helped students stay on track. Also, students referred to their teachers by their first names; I feel that helped build stronger relationships with their teachers. Teachers still had a sense of authority over their students, but there seemed to be less intimidation.

When I arrived back home and visited my internship classroom, I did see what we were also doing well and recognized that we have the potential for positive impact, too. Finland showed me that a true utopia might not exist, but hard work, determination, and minds that are open to innovation can offer hope for our own students’ educational futures.

PAGE 4 | CEAP News

2013 UP Graduates Make History Thanks to Student Voice – By Kelly R . Kelley, PhD

For the first time at Western Carolina University (WCU), University Participant (UP) program graduates were recognized in the traditional May 2013 commencement ceremony along with graduates from the College of Education and Allied Professions. Thanks to the advocacy efforts of the Student Government Association and student voices, UP graduates were able to celebrate this milestone along with many of their peers. As the big graduation day

came near, UP graduates prepared just like other graduates by purchasing their cap and gown, decorating their caps like other WCU graduates, and sending out invitations to family and friends to share in this special day. Well-wishers from near and far came to greet and congratulate the UP graduates. Tears were shed, hugs given, pictures taken, and fist bumps were exchanged as UP graduates enjoyed their day. It was a memorable time to be cherished.

The WCU UP program is a fully inclusive two-year transition program currently funded by the U.S. Department of Education as a model comprehensive transition postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities site for the state of North Carolina. For more information about the WCU UP program or how you can get involved, check out our website at: up.wcu.edu.

Kelley Awarded $300,000 Grant

Dr. Kelly Kelley, assistant professor special education, has been awarded a three-year, $300,000 grant from the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities. The grant will support research on “The Role of Transition Services in Raising Expectations and Attitudes for Students with Intellectual Disabilities.”

FALL 2013 | PAGE 5

WCU Doctoral Students Join ECU and High Point Students in Summer CollaborativeTwenty doctoral students in the College of Education and Allied Professions’ redesigned Executive EdD in Educational Leadership participated in a collaborative summer institute July 22-24 at High Point University. As part of a partnership between High Point University, East Carolina University, and WCU, doctoral students and faculty from all three institutions met in this “Studio” to share their work on problems of practice, to assess their personal leadership styles, to gain greater understanding of practitioner inquiry, to learn more about each others’ programs and to develop a networked learning community to continue the collaboration. WCU faculty who participated included EdD Program Director Kathleen Topolka-Jorissen; Assistant Professor of Research Robert Crow; Bardo Distinguished Professor Kofi Lomotey; Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership Lucian Szlizewski; Research Instructor David Scales;

EdD students Vanessa Capps and Alice McCluney respond to questions about their poster presentation on the problem of completion rates at Isothermal Community College. Capps is Assistant Registrar and Outreach Specialist and McCluney is Director of Enrollment Management at ICC.

EdD students John Bryant and Shauna Sage complete a self-assessment project. Bryant is Principal of Glenn Marlowe Elementary School in Henderson County, and Sage is Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness at WCU.

and Human Services Department Head, Dale Brotherton.

A key feature of the Studio was collaboration around student-prepared posters, focused on key concepts or problems. According to WCU EdD candidate Amy Cooke, Director of College and Career Readiness at Isothermal Community College, “Collaborating on this project paralleled the challenges and obstacles we encounter in educational leadership. First, one must define the problem – a problem which will most likely identify other variables, stakeholders, or factors which should be considered. This was not

an easy task.” During the Studio, students presented their posters and dialogued with other poster teams. WCU EdD candidate Robert Sox, Professional Development Leadership Coordinator for The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Educator Effectiveness Division, concluded, “The opportunity for us to collaborate with other practitioners will make our research more practical, purposeful and interesting.”

The Studio was just the beginning of a long-term collaboration among the three doctoral programs. Brett Wilson, WCU EdD candidate and principal of Hildebran Elementary School in Burke County, recapped the experience by saying, “The network that has appeared across the EdD programs is reassuring us that we are not alone in the western part of the state in our attempt to address problems of practice. I particularly like what Dr. Perry shared concerning the ‘blending of practical wisdom with meaningful research’ and the fact that we need not ‘leave our personal experience and knowledge at the door.’”

Current plans are to continue the collaborative Studio in rotation with a summer retreat in alternate years. The collaboration is part of an agreement between WCU, ECU and HPU to develop and sustain an intercampus partnership among doctoral level leadership preparation programs, led by the EdD program directors at each institution.

PAGE 6 | CEAP News

Rachel Wike is the Coordinator of Distance Programs and Admissions. Her duties include managing academic advising for students who are enrolled in the distance programs that TRACS serves and overseeing the Teacher Education Program Admissions Process for all students. TRACS was fortunate to add a new full-time academic advisor; Ms. Judy Fleming will primarily support our Birth-Kindergarten students and our graduate-level Special Education students. Judy, Rachel, and Annie McCord Muse serve as advisors to our Alternative Licensure students. Jenny Stewart will be coordinating the functions of the TRACS residential advising team and overseeing TRACS efforts such as the WHEE Teach Living-Learning Community and the After-School Program as the Coordinator to Academic Advising and Special Programs. The Residential Advising team, made up of Jenny Stewart, Belinda Petricek, and Steve Wargo, will continue to serve students in the Elementary, Middle Grades, Health and PE, Special and Inclusive Education programs.

In the midst of the reorganization, three of the TRACS advisors represented CEAP at the Region 3 Conference for the National Academic Advisors Association in Greenville, S.C. in May. Rachel Wike, Belinda Petricek, and Jenny Stewart presented “TRACS: Supporting Students Step-by-Step” in a concurrent session and Belinda and Jenny presented “From Engagement to Retention: The WHEE Teach Living-Learning Community” in a poster session.

On the Career Support front, TRACS staff coordinated a Classroom Management professional development opportunity for Western Region Beginning Teachers, as well as the Mid-Year Symposium Differentiation, “Brain Research and the Common Core,” and rounded out the spring event season by welcoming middle school students to campus for the Teachers of Tomorrow Conference. Finally, the Collaborative Teaching Initiatives program accepted proposals for its inaugural initiatives. The purpose of this program is to enhance

working relationships among WCU faculty and school partners to improve the quality of professional education.

Summertime is not downtime in the TRACS offices. Advisors worked with incoming students at orientation and are privileged to be among the first to welcome our newest Catamounts to campus. Meanwhile, staff were also busy planning the many interesting events we will provide our pre-service and in-service teachers in the fall. From reorganization to strengthening our partnerships, TRACS is working hard to serve students, make connections, and build relationships.

In our ongoing effort to support students from recruitment through the beginning years of teaching, we have established a centralized office for all student support services. In the short time that the office of Teacher Recruitment, Advising and Career Support (commonly referred to as TRACS) has been in existence, our advising and outreach has grown. We now work with faculty and students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Student (and beginning teacher) success is our mission and we feel strongly that Suite 201 offers a welcoming and bustling place for students to come for services, meetings, and even just to hang out.

Who We are …• Office of the Associate Dean

• Advising

• Beginning Teacher and Career Support

• Field Experiences

• Licensure

• School Partnerships

• Teacher Education Admissions

• Teacher Recruitment

• WHEE Teach

“For Every Step Along the Way”

TRACS Reorganization and the New Suite 201 continued

FALL 2013 | PAGE 7

FACULTY AND STAFF

CEAP WAS FORTUNATE THIS YEAR TO HAVE OUTSTANDING NEW FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS JOIN THE COLLEGE.

Judy Flemming TRACS – Academic

Advisor

Kofi Lomotey HS - John & Deborah Bardo Distinguished

Professor in Educational Leadership

Robert Crow HS – Professor,

Educational Research

Ethan Schilling PSY - Assistant

Professor in School Psychology

Yogita Abichandani

HS - Assistant Professor in Human Resources

Jacqueline Moore STL, University

Participants Program – Student Services

Specialist

Amanda Chapman

OFE – Instructor

Jessica Weiler HS - Assistant

Professor in Master of School Administration

Rebekah Norris UP – UP Program

Coordinator

Tom Watterson STL - Assistant

Professor in Health and Physical Education

FAMILIAR FACES IN NEW ROLESTom Ford – PSY – Professor, Psychology

Kelly Kelley – STL – Assistant Professor, Special Education

Annie McCord – STL -Administrative Support Associate,

Office of Field Experiences

Holly Pinter – STL – Assistant Professor, Elementary /

Middle Grades Education

CONTACT OUR ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS

HUMAN SERVICES91 Killian Building Lane

Killian, Room 208Cullowhee, NC 28723

828.227.7310

SCHOOL OF TEACHING & LEARNING1 University Drive

Reid Gym, Room 100Cullowhee, NC 28723

828.227.7108

PSYCHOLOGY91 Killian Building Lane

Killian, Room 302BCullowhee, NC 28723

828.227.7361

PAGE 8 | CEAP News

This spring, the College of Education and Allied Professions gathered together to honor the late Dr. Janice Hooper Holt through a tree dedication ceremony. During the ceremony Morgan Grooms was awarded the Dr. Janice Holt Whee Teach Freshmen Leader of the Year Award.

Rocket to Creativity, Another Successful YearThe AIG Faculty offered the 11th annual Rocket to Creativity, June 24-28 at WCU. More than 90 children participated! Thirty-four inservice and preservice teachers worked in teams to provide children with the opportunity to engage in fun but challenging activities that promoted creative thinking and problem solving skills. This year, children who were rising 2nd graders through rising 9th graders designed projects that ranged from digital story telling, crime scenes to odorless nail polish remover. Rocket to Creativity is the field experience for WCU’s Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program. If you’re interested in participating in next year’s Rocket to Creativity or would like to add-on the NC AIG teaching license, please contact Suite 201 (227.7027) or visit us online for more information.

Once again, WCU’s Parks and Recreation Management students did a wonderful job organizing the annual Old Cullowhee Canoe Slalom. The event was held as a fund-raiser for the proposed river park. There were 54 participants and the event raised $480. The proposed river park which is planned to be between the dam and the Old Cullowhee Road bridge and will be a huge asset to both the community and to the PRM program. If you’re interested in participating in next year’s canoe slalom in September, please visit our website for updated announcements on current events.

FALL 2013 | PAGE 9

CEAP Technology Expo and Resources by Lee Nickles

The college held its Technology Expo on September 6 in Killian 102 to show faculty, staff, and students the technology available for their studies and research. In addition to Lee Nickles and Misty Colton from the college, personnel from the Coulter Faculty Commons and the Technology Commons set up displays of the hardware, software, and training resources available. Faculty, staff, and students attended and several won door prizes provided by Lowes, Wal-Mart, and Catamount Clothing and Gifts. The most popular item to demonstrate was the 360-degree panoramic camera that can record audio and video of an entire room.

Digital technology is a major component of our culture and our college strives to prepare students in our programs to use it well and wisely. Our interns in teacher education programs must shoot, edit, and upload video of themselves teaching. Psychology students conduct research using digital tools to collect and analyze data. Counseling faculty record staged counseling sessions to train students in

current techniques. All these and more require a technology support infrastructure provided by the college and several departments in the Division of Information Technology for the university.

To address these and many other needs, our technology office in the college checks out equipment to students and faculty such as video cameras, audio recorders, and tripods. The office also schedules laptop carts and one iPad cart for faculty use during class. These are popular for classes that do not regularly meet in the high-demand computer labs but occasionally need computers for in-class activities. We also support the TaskStream electronic portfolio system used by our teacher education and school psychology programs. Other online services supported include Atomic Learning, Voicethread, and Teachscape.

All students, faculty, and staff in the college are encouraged to contact Lee Nickles or Misty Colton for technology support for their teaching and research.

Dr. Alvin Malesky was named head of the Psychology Department. He is also the recipient of the 2012-2013 Jay M.Robinson e-Teaching award presented by Chancellor Belcher.

Dr. David McCord has returned to faculty status after 10 years of serving as head of the Psychology Department.

PAGE 10 | CEAP News

College of Education & Allied Professions Spring 2013

Department of Psychology,

422

Other,

36

School of Teaching

and Learning, 1356Department of

Human Services,

657

Graduate & Undergraduate Enrollment

Graduate,

709

Undergraduate,

1701

CEAP Total Enrollment

Females,

1824

Males, 488

Enrollment Based on Gender

Teacher Candidates in the Public Classrooms

Final student Teaching,

160

Early field experience,

599

“We appreciate all of the partnering school systems in providing our students with the opportunity to learn through hands-on experience.”

- Dale CarpenterInterim Dean

30 or more students,

16%

20-29 students,

22%

10-19 students,

36%

Fewer than 10 students (includes independent studies, research, and internships),

29%

Average Class Size, Graduate & Undergraduate

FALL 2013 | PAGE 11

204 KillianCullowhee, NC 28723

Like us on Facebookfacebook.com/WCUCEAP

CONTACT US:91 Killian Building Lane Cullowhee, NC 28723828.227.7311

WCU is a University of North Carolina campus and an Equal Opportunity Institution. 300 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $XXX.XX or $.XX each. Office of Creative Services | September 2013 | 13-724

CEAP News

Dr. David Claxton and Dr. Dan Grube, along with Health and Physical Education majors Nicole Kaysing, Laura Greb, Paul Lane, and Orey Lance, went to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in the spring for the fifth annual SPEAK Out! organized by the National Association for Sport and

Physical Education (NASPE). The health and physical educators asked Congress to support the Promoting Health as Youth Skills in Classrooms and Life (PHYSICAL) act as well as maintain funding for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant.

Speak Out Day (Washington, D.C.)

PAGE 12 | CEAP News